Composition containing polymerized chloroprene



Patented July 6, 19.43

UNl -TED STATES PATENT "OFFICE CODIPOSITION CONTAINING POLYMERIZED CHLOROPRENE Alexander D. Macdo'nald, Maiden, lV Ias'a, assignor to B. B. Chemical 00., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts No Drawing. Original application January31, 1940, Serial No. 316,513. Divided and this application November 3, 1941, Serial No. 417,681

4 Claims. (Cl. 26032) This invention relates to polymerized chloroprene and more particularly to liquid compositions prepared from malodorant-free plastic polymers of chloroprene.

This is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 316,513, filed January 31, 1940.

Plastic polymerized chloroprene is chloroprene (also known as chloro-Z-butadiene-IB) which has been polymerized to such an extent that it may be worked on the rolls of a rubber mill and compounded with otheringredients in a manner similar to that in which crude rubber is treated. Such plastic polymerized chloroprene may be "cured to a condition in which it resembles vulcanized rubber in exhibiting essentially elastic rather than plastic properties. This curing of plastic polymerized chloroprene, often spoken of taining no stabilizing materials have increased greatly in viscosity and actually gelled in much shorter periods of time.'

Examples of sodium salts of inorganicacids containing a phosphorus-oxygen group are so- (NaHzPOr) and dium monobasic. phasphate sodium phosphite (Nazi-IP03) The salt of the group described above preferably is present in the composition to the extent as vulcanization, appears to be a further polymerization of the chloroprene as distinguished of about 1 to 10% by weight of the polymerized chloroprene present. ,I have found that about 3% of the salt functions very satisfactorily.

I have conducted aging tests of liquid dispersions made in accordance with this invention, the results of which are given hereinbelow.- I'selected 105 F. as the temperature at which to conduct these tests, because liquid dispersions of polymerized chloroprene ordinarily are less stable at elevated temperatures, and 105 F. represents the maximum temperature at which such dispersions ordinarily would be stored. In these tests dispersions in toluene. of malodorant-free plastic polymerized-chloroprene, which had been deodorized in the manner described in Patent No. 2,067,854, were prepared with a concentration of about 2 pounds oi the polymerized chloroprene to the gallon of solution. In each case 3% of the salt was'incorporated in the liquid com-.

position. These compositions were then stored in a constant temperature chamber at 105 F.

The following table illustrates the eflicacy of certain of the salts coming within the scope of polymerized chloroprene which will retain their liquidity and free-flowing qualities. for substantial periods of time and, when occasion requires, they may. quickly beassociated with suitable compounding ingredients, including curing agents, depending upon the particular use to which the liquid dispersions are to be-put.

An object of this invention is to provide .improved liquid compositions embodying malodorant-free plastic polymerized chloroprene. Other objects are to provide such compositions having improved stability, that is, increased resistance to thickening and gelling over a period of time, and which may be stored for substantial periods of time without deterioration. r I

According to the present invention the above and other objects are attained by incorporating a sodium salt of an acid containing a phosphorusoxygen group in the dispersion or colloidal solution of plastic polymerized chloroprene. Compositions so treated have stood at temperatures as high as 105 F. for many weeks without gelling or undue thickening, whereas compositions conthis invention and shows the viscosity of the solutions at the beginning of the test and after 8 weeks constant exposure to a temperature of F. except where the composition had gelled prior to the expiration of 'the 8 weeks period.

Sodium phosphite NmHPm) 1 Gelled after 6 weeks. 7

The viscosity mentioned hereinabov'e refers to the number of .seconds'required for a steel ball of 9.5 mm. diameter) and weighing from glass tube of 19 mm. inside diameter.

From the above test results it will be observed that while ordinarily there was a relatively small increase of viscosity such increase is well within the limits normally to be expected from such colloidal dispersions. The above compositions after storage were all suitable for the uses to which such compositions ordinarily are put.

The sodiumsalt of the acid containing a phosphorus-oxygen group may be incorporated in the polymerized chloroprene dispersion in any suitable manner. Thus, the salt in finely powdered state may be milled into the polymerized chloroprene on a suitable rubber mill. The milled material then may be sheeted, cut up into relatively the form of a solution thereof in a suitable solvent may be added to a solution of the polymerized chloroprene.

when it is desired to use the liquid dispersion oi this invention for coating, adhesive or other purposes, it may be 'so used in certain instances without change or it may be diluted with a suitable liquid diluent, or, if desired, compounding ingredients of the type well known in the art may be incorporated in the liquid dispersion.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v 1. A liquid composition comprising malodorant-free plastic polymerized chloroprene dispersed in an organic solvent, said composition being characterized by resistance to thickening and gelling over a substantial period of time and by the presence therein of about 1 to 10% of a salt of the group consisting of sodium monobasic phosphate (-NaHzPOl) and sodium phosphite (NazHPOa).

2. A liquid composition comprising malodorant-free plastic polymerized chloroprene dispersed in an organic solvent, said composition being characterized by resistance to thickening and gelling over a substantial period of time and by the presence therein of about 3% of sodium monobasic phosphate (NaH2PO4) 3. A liquid composition comprising malodorant-free plasticpolymerized chloroprene dispersed in an organic solvent, said composition being characterized by resistance to thickening and gelling over a substantial period of time and by the presence therein of about 3% of sodium phosphite (NazHPOa) 4. The method of inhibiting thickening and I gelling of a liquid dispersion of malodorant-free plastic polymerized chloroprene in an organic solvent, which comprises incorporating in said dispersion a salt of the group consisting of sodium monobasic phosphate (NaH2PO4) and sodium phosphite (NaaHPOs). I

ALEXANDER D. MACDONALD. 

